In the Information Age, it is not uncommon to see smartphones everywhere. That includes school campuses, the dinner table, and in the bedroom. People, even children, seem to be constantly connected to the rest of the world through smart devices. One Colorado group, Parents Against Underage Smartphones, is proposing a ballot initiative that would ban the sale of smartphones to children younger than 13, or parents who intend to give the smartphone to kids in that age group. The proposal would require retailers to file reports every month to find those who sell the phones to underage kids. The group is currently working on gathering nearly 300,000 signatures that are required to get on the Colorado state ballot in November 2018. This proposal has sparked nationwide debate, with some understanding the reasoning behind the idea, but noting that it would overstep the government’s role into a family’s private life and personal decisions. The American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines for children’s media use, that you can read about here.
How much screen time is too much? Do you think smartphones should be banned for children under 13?